What was the first game between Liverpool & Manchester United and who won?
1894 LIVERPOOL BEAT MANCHESTER UNITED TO WIN PROMOTION
After winning the Lancashire League, Liverpool successfully applied to join the Football League and they won promotion in their first season.
Liverpool's admission was at the expense of another local club, Bootle, who had been suffering from financial problems and withdrew from the league. However, John McKenna had made the application without telling William Barclay, who was surprised to receive a telegram telling him to go to London and arrange the fixtures for the new season.
On 2nd September 1893 Liverpool played their first game in the 2nd Division, beating Middlesbrough Ironopolis 2-0 away from home, the goals coming from Joe McQue and Malcolm McVean. A week later at Anfield, Lincoln City were beaten 4-0. Liverpool went on to finish the season unbeaten at the top of the table, winning all fourteen of their games at Anfield.
Despite winning the league Liverpool still weren't promoted automatically and had to play a test match against Manchester United, who were then known as Newton Heath and had finished bottom of the 1st Division.
Liverpool won 2-0 at Anfield to seal promotion although they would be relegated back to the 2nd Division after just one season in the top flight.
Image: Liverpool FC & Newton Heath crests in 1894
Extract taken from the book '100 Facts - Liverpool' by Steve Horton